William Wirt VAUGHAN

(1831-1878)

VAUGHAN, William Wirt, a
Representative from Tennessee; born in LaGuardo (now Martha),
Wilson County, Tenn., July 2, 1831; attended the common schools and
was graduated from Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tenn.; studied
law; was admitted to the bar in 1860 and commenced practice in
Brownsville, Tenn.; elected as a Democrat to the Forty-second
Congress (March 4, 1871-March 3, 1873); unsuccessful candidate for
reelection in 1872 to the Forty-third Congress; resumed the
practice of law in Brownsville; one of the prime movers in the
building of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad branch from
Brownsville to Newbern, and was president of the system at the time
of his death; became a candidate for election in 1878 to the
Forty-sixth Congress, but died in Crockett Mills, near Alamo,
Crockett County, Tenn., August 19, 1878, while canvassing the
district; interment in Oakwood Cemetery, Brownsville, Tenn.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present